Supermum Laura close to finale of challenge in aid of Air Ambulance

Supermum Laura close to finale of challenge in aid of Air Ambulance

1 December 2021

MOTIVATING yourself to run one marathon is a tough enough challenge, but imagine running 12 marathons in the space of a year.

That is exactly what Castlewellan woman Laura Brennan decided to do in aid of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland and this Saturday she completes the final leg of what has been a truly remarkable and amazing journey.

Her last run will be up and down Newcastle promenade, starting at 8am. By 1pm she hopes that she will have completed her twelfth marathon.

The proud mum-of-four — who is a member of Murlough AC — started the year off during lockdown by challenging herself to complete 12 marathons to raise money for the Air Ambulance which has responded to countless emergencies across the Newry, Mourne and Down area since its launch.

It was certainly a challenging time for everyone, but Laura did not let this dampen her spirits.

To her great credit, she started the year with the 12 marathon idea and has stuck to her guns and will be delighted to complete her challenge this weekend.

In addition to completing her personal fundraising journey by running the length of the promenade, Saturday’s event also provides an opportunity for Lauren’s family, friends, running club members and local community to support her on her final run.

Laura has shown so much endurance and determination as she set out each month to make sure she completed the promised 26.2 miles.

She completed various routes each month around the stunning locations of Newcastle and Castlewellan, taking in sites such as Castlewellan Forest Park, the beautiful Newcastle coastline and also including one trip up Slieve Donard.

During October, she completed the Belfast Marathon which was extra special for Laura as she was able to take part in a proper running event for the first time after lockdown restrictions were eased. 

Also in October, Laura took part in the relay event as part of the Belfast 24-hour endurance run, successfully completing 52 laps of Victoria Park. Each lap was just over one mile. 

In addition, Laura ran through the night and made sure she ticked two marathons off her list.

These were only a couple of examples of the many marathons Laura challenged herself to this and throughout the year she stuck to her promise to Air Ambulance NI.

Each day the Air Ambulance NI costs in the region of £5,500  to run and £2m a year is needed a o keep this vital service operational.

Ahead of Saturday’s final marathon push, Laura and her family hope local people will also turn out at the promenade to show their support and make a donation to a very worthy cause.

And while what appeared to be a daunting challenge at the beginning of the year for Laura, she has proved that with the right attitude and determination anything is possible.